[font=comic sans ms,cursive]Hello hello. Before you read this review, I just want to assure you that I have beaten the game to the fullest. I am not basing this review on any less than a full game. With that said, let's review.
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What is Mutant Mudds?
Mutant Mudds is one of the newest additions to the Nintendo e-Shop. Almost everything about this game is enjoyable, ranging from the music and graphics to the gameplay and level design. Don't let the simplicity of the game fool you though. After the first four levels or so, the game can be a living hell to those unfamiliar to the platforming genre. Without further delay, here is my review and recommendation for Mutant Mudds.
Story -
The story for this game is almost non-existent. You begin the game as the main character, Max, with his grandmother in her house watching t.v. Seconds later, the screen shifts the focus onto a muddy meteor hurdling towards the earth. A news caster is then shown on t.v. telling the player that the world is being invaded by Mutant Mudds. Without any other explanation as to what is going on, you begin the game. With the exception of the ending (which doesn't really even count towards the story), you are left with a story-less adventure. This is a pretty good idea for indie games to follow. And for a game revolving around primarily gameplay, it's even better. Case in point : Mario.
Graphics -
Hopefully by now, you should know that this is a "12 bit" pixel game. And generally, people can love pixel games or hate them. This section of the review is based on personal preference. With that out of the way, I'd like to say that the graphics to this game are charming to look at, and really fit the mood of the game. Could they be better? Yes. But I'm not complaining.
The 3D Effect -
Something else that you all should know by now is that the main gimmick of this game is jumping back and forth between three layers of the game : The background, foreground, and middle ground (is there a term for this?). While the 3D will not blow you away, it definitely makes the gameplay experience more enjoyable. The depth is noticeable, and even some of the enemies take advantage of the 3D being on. If the 3D hurts your eyes though, it is fine to play with it off. I found it to be a bit harder on the eyes than other games that were made by Nintendo themselves. I've played half of the game with the 3D on, and the other half with it off. It's playable either way, and in no way interferes with the actual gameplay.
Gameplay -
Oh boy. This is where the main draw of the game is. You are a boy with nothing but a jet pack and water gun fending off against sixteen types of Mutant Mudds in forty different levels. After the first world though, you really need to be careful. The enemy placement is evil, along with the platform placement. Thankfully though, the levels are short and you have no lives system. Just good old fashioned get from point A to point B with a generous amount of time. Yes, you do have a time limit, but it's a whooping four minutes. Overall, the game can provide more of a reflexive challenge than most other e-Shop games out there. It can be frustrating at times, but what's so bad about a little challenge?
The producer of the game did give collectionists something to be happy about to. With two thousand tokens to collect, with unlockable's following right behind. Don't expect too much though... There are only four things to unlock. Three of which you need to get a 100% completion, and the fourth is a result of just that. No spoilers though.
Controls -
The controls for this game are rather simple. A and B to jump/hover. X and Y to shoot. Circle pad to move. They work, and that's all that matters.
Music/Sounds -
The music for this game is great, and it actually fits the atmosphere of the levels. You can tell by the music what kind of a setting you're in, and that's great in of itself. Not only that, but it's catchy. Heck, the producer is even letting people download the music for any price, including a whooping 0.00 USD!
If you're interested, here's the link to the music. I've downloaded it myself, so I can assure you it's safe to use.
http://renegadekid.b...utant-mudds-ost
So... You tell me if it's good or not. I personally like some of the tracks and love others, but it isn't complete without the actual levels to bring out the atmosphere.
Replayability -
Eh... When you've completely beaten the game, there's nothing much left to do except play around with the final unlockable. It's fun to do, but it could've been a bit better if you could start a new file with it so you could play with the new unlockable and be proud of your new found skills. Starting a second or third file is definitely an option though, so you can play it as many times as you want without touching your 100% file.
Rating -[/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]Overall, I'd give this game an 8.6/10. It's a great game, and among the best in the e-Shop. The only gripes I have with the game are the difficulty spikes (which looking back at it aren't all that bad. I've only rage quit from the final level of the game), and the replayability. But if you are looking for a retro experience with fun gameplay, I'd definitely recommend getting this game. It's worth the price.[/font]
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What is Mutant Mudds?
Mutant Mudds is one of the newest additions to the Nintendo e-Shop. Almost everything about this game is enjoyable, ranging from the music and graphics to the gameplay and level design. Don't let the simplicity of the game fool you though. After the first four levels or so, the game can be a living hell to those unfamiliar to the platforming genre. Without further delay, here is my review and recommendation for Mutant Mudds.
Story -
The story for this game is almost non-existent. You begin the game as the main character, Max, with his grandmother in her house watching t.v. Seconds later, the screen shifts the focus onto a muddy meteor hurdling towards the earth. A news caster is then shown on t.v. telling the player that the world is being invaded by Mutant Mudds. Without any other explanation as to what is going on, you begin the game. With the exception of the ending (which doesn't really even count towards the story), you are left with a story-less adventure. This is a pretty good idea for indie games to follow. And for a game revolving around primarily gameplay, it's even better. Case in point : Mario.
Graphics -
Hopefully by now, you should know that this is a "12 bit" pixel game. And generally, people can love pixel games or hate them. This section of the review is based on personal preference. With that out of the way, I'd like to say that the graphics to this game are charming to look at, and really fit the mood of the game. Could they be better? Yes. But I'm not complaining.
The 3D Effect -
Something else that you all should know by now is that the main gimmick of this game is jumping back and forth between three layers of the game : The background, foreground, and middle ground (is there a term for this?). While the 3D will not blow you away, it definitely makes the gameplay experience more enjoyable. The depth is noticeable, and even some of the enemies take advantage of the 3D being on. If the 3D hurts your eyes though, it is fine to play with it off. I found it to be a bit harder on the eyes than other games that were made by Nintendo themselves. I've played half of the game with the 3D on, and the other half with it off. It's playable either way, and in no way interferes with the actual gameplay.
Gameplay -
Oh boy. This is where the main draw of the game is. You are a boy with nothing but a jet pack and water gun fending off against sixteen types of Mutant Mudds in forty different levels. After the first world though, you really need to be careful. The enemy placement is evil, along with the platform placement. Thankfully though, the levels are short and you have no lives system. Just good old fashioned get from point A to point B with a generous amount of time. Yes, you do have a time limit, but it's a whooping four minutes. Overall, the game can provide more of a reflexive challenge than most other e-Shop games out there. It can be frustrating at times, but what's so bad about a little challenge?
The producer of the game did give collectionists something to be happy about to. With two thousand tokens to collect, with unlockable's following right behind. Don't expect too much though... There are only four things to unlock. Three of which you need to get a 100% completion, and the fourth is a result of just that. No spoilers though.
Controls -
The controls for this game are rather simple. A and B to jump/hover. X and Y to shoot. Circle pad to move. They work, and that's all that matters.
Music/Sounds -
The music for this game is great, and it actually fits the atmosphere of the levels. You can tell by the music what kind of a setting you're in, and that's great in of itself. Not only that, but it's catchy. Heck, the producer is even letting people download the music for any price, including a whooping 0.00 USD!
If you're interested, here's the link to the music. I've downloaded it myself, so I can assure you it's safe to use.
http://renegadekid.b...utant-mudds-ost
So... You tell me if it's good or not. I personally like some of the tracks and love others, but it isn't complete without the actual levels to bring out the atmosphere.
Replayability -
Eh... When you've completely beaten the game, there's nothing much left to do except play around with the final unlockable. It's fun to do, but it could've been a bit better if you could start a new file with it so you could play with the new unlockable and be proud of your new found skills. Starting a second or third file is definitely an option though, so you can play it as many times as you want without touching your 100% file.
Rating -[/font]
[font=comic sans ms,cursive]Overall, I'd give this game an 8.6/10. It's a great game, and among the best in the e-Shop. The only gripes I have with the game are the difficulty spikes (which looking back at it aren't all that bad. I've only rage quit from the final level of the game), and the replayability. But if you are looking for a retro experience with fun gameplay, I'd definitely recommend getting this game. It's worth the price.[/font]
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